What we're working on

Cervical cancer is highly preventable, yet it continues to affect women in underserved, racial and ethnic minority, and rural communities more than others. Federally qualified health centers serve over 30 million patients a year and are often the only source of screening in these communities, but screening rates there remain low. Most existing strategies target overburdened primary care providers and overlook medical assistants and nurses.

This project partners with the whole care team (primary care providers, medical assistants and nurses) to adapt proven strategies into a team-based care model. Through surveys and in-depth interviews, we identify what helps and hinders teamwork in delivering screening, and tailor strategies to fit safety-net clinics.

Cervical cancer is highly preventable, yet it continues to affect women in underserved, racial and ethnic minority, and rural communities more than others. Federally qualified health centers serve over 30 million patients a year and are often the only source of screening in these communities, but screening rates there remain low. Most existing strategies target overburdened primary care providers and overlook medical assistants and nurses.

This project partners with the whole care team (primary care providers, medical assistants and nurses) to adapt proven strategies into a team-based care model. Through surveys and in-depth interviews, we identify what helps and hinders teamwork in delivering screening, and tailor strategies to fit safety-net clinics.

Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) are resurging in Washington: 2025 saw the most measles cases in 33 years. East African communities, including Somali, Eritrean and Ethiopian families, face higher risk because of misinformation and systemic barriers. With Neighborcare Health, we found that East African patients under age two have 60–69% lower odds of receiving at least one MMRV vaccine than their peers.

Neighborcare Health, the Somali Health Board and Dr. Shin are working with a community advisory board to understand what shapes vaccination decisions, and to co-design culturally responsive vaccine communication with caregivers and community leaders.

Safety-net clinics, including federally qualified health centers, tribal clinics and rural health centers, are often the only source of colorectal cancer screening for underserved communities in Washington and Alaska, yet screening rates remain low. Most improvement strategies overlook frontline staff such as nurses and medical assistants, who are part of almost every patient visit.

This pilot works with frontline staff to develop a practice facilitation approach that clinics can lead themselves, instead of relying on outside experts who are often unavailable in safety-net settings.